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Dieting to shed a few pounds or simply to improve your heart health can be a challenge. And if you don't get the balance right, you can easily find yourself fantasising night and day about all those high fructose corn syrupy snacks you know will destroy all your efforts.

Likewise, reducing calorie intake is unfortunately often achieved by cutting back on essential fats and other nutrients that keep skin and cell tissue healthy.  This is why dieters often look haggard and develop dull skin and brittle nails. If you're looking to lose weight and glow with health, Brussels Sprouts really are your secret weapon. Here are 7 reasons why:

1. Appetite suppressant – Brussels sprouts are an excellent source of fibre, which will fill you up for a few hours.

2. Big portions / small calories – Brussels sprouts are nutrient dense but extremely low calorie - One cup (155g) of steamed brussels sprouts provides only 65 calories – so you can really load up on them and feel full for a while.

3. Mood lifter – avoid the grouchy mood that usually accompanies dieting. Brussels sprouts are a great source of thiamine, which the body needs for proper nerve function. A deficiency in thiamine can cause fatigue, depression and constipation.

4. Get your vitamins – when you restrict your diet, you risk compromising your intake of vital nutrients. Folic acid deficiency is the most common vitamin deficiency in the world. Brussels sprouts are an excellent source of folic acid (100g or 2 oz will provide 25% of your daily requirement), which is crucial in healthy cell division.

5. Stay strong – dieting can sometimes weaken the immune system. Brussels sprouts are rich in vitamin C. Bacteria and viruses cannot reproduce in an environment rich in vitamin C, which is why it’s a great booster for your immune system.

6. Detoxify - Brussels sprouts are very rich in sulforanphane which Tom Monte, author of The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, explains is a major and important trigger for the body's detoxifying functions as well as for promoting cancer-preventing enzymes.   

7. Glowing skin – Vitamin C is also very important for healthy skin. It is primarily responsible for the body’s production of collagen - nature’s natural skin plumper. One cup of brussels sprouts will provide you with over 100% of your daily requirement to keep your gums healthy and your skin glowing!


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